Paris Is Too Hot to Breathe…Inside and Out!
Good morning everyone!
I hope you’re reading this in the cool of air-conditioning wherever you are, and sympathizing with us who are sweltering in the heat of Paris! Poor us, right? Well, maybe not. I’d rather be here in the heat than just about anywhere, but there appears to be no end in sight. We have fans going 24/7 …on high… but they hardly make a dent. Actually, though counter-intuitive, it helps to close the windows and keep the brutal heat out.
After our trip to Normandy (please see my post-script), we were exhausted and slept in. Breakfast for the gang didn’t happen until about 10:30 and we decided to eat only one other meal for the day. Then came the experience of doing laundry which as many of you know who’ve read my blog for years is a project. About 2pm, we tried to think of something cool to do besides sitting in this sweat box of an apartment and decided on a trip to the Catacombs of Paris where the temperature is supposed to be about 14 degrees C or about 59 degrees F. Off we went in great anticipation only to find that many others had the same idea. The wait for entry was 2 1/2 hours! Needless to say, we aborted our plan. I had made reservations for 5pm at a restaurant on Ile St. Louis that we knew was air-conditioned called Sorza. It’s delightful but our reservation was two hours away. We took the Metro to Place St. Michel
and visited the lovely medieval church of St. Julien le Pauvre,
then walked down rue Huchette which you remember is the “food street” and past the famous Shakespeare book store. We arrived at our restaurant an hour early, and the proprietor couldn’t have been nicer and accepted us graciously. We sat for a while and just drank her chilled water, then ordered a delicious meal. Forgot to get any pics, Jim Bilbro, but we ate the Mousse au Chocalat in your honor.
Our plan all along had been to go back to the Eiffel Tower for the trip up to the top at a time when the line would be shorter. We hit it perfectly with almost no line at security or at the main entry, and only a ten-minute wait on the second level to get to the top. The kids had a fun, fun evening. The pictures will tell the story from sunsets to the glass floor. Hope you enjoy. One can never get enough of this massive structure which is the most visited outdoor site in the world. Google it and learn how the Parisians hated it at first and actually wanted to tear it down!
So, another exhausting but wonderful day in the City of Light.
L & B
P.S. Monica and Marlyn Eshelman visited us in May as one of Bernie’s dear friends from college and a member of their singing group the Triad’s. She sent this lovely email telling about our Normandy picture of the gravesite of the man from Alabama. It is so touching, and I got her permission to share it with all of you.
“Being a genealogist, I can’t stand to see a tombstone without knowing more about the person, so, just out of curiosity, I did a little research on your Bryant H. Lipham, buried at Normandy. He was a bit illusive, but I’m sure he has an interesting story. He was born, probably out of wedlock, in Alabama, to a woman named Othelma. She was married to a man named Luther Smith before Bryant was born in 1922, but I don’t think Luther was the father. Anyway, Bryant was adopted by a couple named Lipham, and was their only son. Doesn’t that make it extra tragic that he died? Must have been their special blessing and then they lost him when he was only 22. Because of the birth and adoption circumstances, there is not a lot of information about him on-line, but I saw a tiny picture of him in uniform.
The happy little addendum is that he fathered a child in Wales before he died. Has lots of grandchildren and great-grandchildren living in Great Britain.”
June 21, 2017 @ 9:05 am
What an excellent day — despite the heat! Excited for your grandchildren that they had a good time up on the Tower 🙂
The photos are fabulous as always (that onion-domed building is the new Russian Orthodox cathedral, controversial bien sûr!) and well done on stepping onto the glass floor.
Happy summer solstice and Fête de la Musique!
June 21, 2017 @ 9:46 am
Yes, someone else identified the Russian Orthodox Cathdral. We’ll have to visit. And we’ll go out and about this evening for Le Fète.
June 21, 2017 @ 9:11 am
The building that you couldn’t identify (with the gold domes) is the Russian Orthodox Cathedral. https://www.rt.com/news/336309-dome-orthodox-cathedral-paris/
June 21, 2017 @ 9:44 am
Ah, merci beaucoup!
June 21, 2017 @ 9:59 am
Linda what a lovely day, loved all your photos. Kudos to you for steeping on the glass floor. Can’t wait for your next post .
June 21, 2017 @ 10:39 am
I am sorry that the heat is so oppressive, especially for your family’s visit. You all have not let it stop your site seeing and family memory making adventures. Good for you! I hope you will be able to continue showing them yours and Bernie’s Paris.
June 21, 2017 @ 12:07 pm
Gorgeous photos!
June 21, 2017 @ 1:32 pm
What a fun day! You are making treasured life-time memories with your grandchildren!
I am considering starting a love lock connection on the bridge over Limestone Creek by our farm! Thanks for the photos! Love seeing Bernie and Chris’ talent!
June 21, 2017 @ 3:53 pm
Amazing photos!!
June 21, 2017 @ 5:14 pm
What a great post today…chock full of wonderful photos and activities. I am sorry it has been so hot! That makes getting out and about very difficult. Thank you, Bernie, for the Louis Vuitton photos. Now we know that Daniel Buren’s colored panels have been removed. Also, kudos to you, Linda, for stepping out on the glass floor! You don’t look like you are enjoying it! We look forward to seeing you in just three short weeks!
Peggy
June 21, 2017 @ 7:33 pm
Yes, we look forward to seeing you! It was 101 today…we are dying and it has really impacted our day. This is Le Fete de la Musique, and it’s too hot to even be outside. So disappointing.
June 21, 2017 @ 8:28 pm
Are these temperatures typical in Paris for this time of year? Is A/C not around except in restaurants and museums? You all certainly didn’t let these temps dampened your spirits at all! Intrepid tourists one and all!
June 22, 2017 @ 4:07 am
These temps are NOT typical for Paris, more like late July and August. Last year this time, it was raining and cool every day.
June 21, 2017 @ 11:35 pm
So sorry you are suffering in the terrible heat. Three trips ago I was there the summer of 2010 and it was horribly hot. Every day they had warnings up on the electronic street signs, advising at risk people and children to take care, stay out of the heat and stay hydrated. We had to take a trip to the BHV basement to buy personal fans to run in our hotel room.
We never did find any place that had air conditioning, except of course the dairy/meat department in the Monoprix grocery area. While it was heavenly (we shopped slooow to enjoy) it almost made going back out into the heat harder. Luckily it had cooled down by Bastille Day so we were able to enjoy the festivities.
Stay cool and do like the Parisians do, find a fountain and dunk your feet. 🙂
June 22, 2017 @ 4:06 am
We have been through this heat before but never with guests here. It’s been really hard on everyone! And yes, we thought about just spending the afternoon in the Monoprix!! We do have 3 fans and they help a little but not much. Sleeping is especially difficult. We’re used to just adapting to whatever, but the family, not so much.
June 22, 2017 @ 4:47 am
Absolutely wonderful photos and narrative. Amazing! Thank you!
June 22, 2017 @ 5:44 am
Je vous en pris…you’re welcome. Glad you are enjoying the blog.
June 24, 2017 @ 3:04 pm
I am enjoying your blob, the pics, and comments by everyone, and your ingenious ways of cooling down!
June 24, 2017 @ 3:58 pm
It is SO special to hear from you!